Refractometer vs Hanna Salinity Checker

[LordClownFish]

Hey All,

I'm just curious what your Hanna Salinity meter reads, I've been using a refractometer and it says 1.026 and my Hanna says 32.5 so I'm curious if anyone else has similar results.


Also, the Hanna calibration fluid says NOT to use with a refractometer. Why is that? Wouldn't it just be a 35 ppt salt solution?

Curious to hear others input.

 

[cloak]

I apologize for not really answering your question, but that $8.99 floating glass hydrometer at the LFS might be all you need.. GL.

 

[ZoWhat]

Hanna uses electrodes to measure salinity

Refractometers use a prism and a light source

Both calibrate completely differently

 

[jimk60]

Personally I use the Tropic Marin floating hydrometer. Never needs calibration and always accurate. Got tired of all the calibration and false readings of the Hanna unit and various refractometers

 

[flashsmith]

The only thing I trust is an old school hydrometer. I've had all the ones mentioned and none of them are as accurate or easier to use as a hydrometer

 

[ZoWhat]

Are ppl throwing their refractometers around in the backyard like nerf footballs or something? Lol

Once I calibrate my $40 refracto... it stays calibrated for years. It may be off 0.001 like every 3-4 years. After 6 years I spend the BIG BUCKS in buying a new $40 one at BRS

:face-with-rolling-eyes:

Idk man... I guess I don't drop my refracto. I clean it everytime I use it by wiping the lens completely clean. I treat it as an instrument not a toy by not tossing it and bouncing it on the countertop....

 

[John Neuzil]

My tropic marin floating reads 1.026. Hanna reads 1.024. The hanna is consistent so i use it regularly and know im at 1.026. I do calibrate it once a month and cross check with the floater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey All,

I'm just curious what your Hanna Salinity meter reads, I've been using a refractometer and it says 1.026 and my Hanna says 32.5 so I'm curious if anyone else has similar results.


Also, the Hanna calibration fluid says NOT to use with a refractometer. Why is that? Wouldn't it just be a 35 ppt salt solution?

Curious to hear others input.

You can check and calibrate both with appropriate solutions.

 

[FernBluffReef]

I have all three. Old school cheap Hydrometer, Refractometer and a Hanna salinity checker. I find the refractometer to be an unreliable piece of junk so it sits on the shelf. The Old school hydrometer when used correctly is +/- .001 and very consistent and I use when there is any questions. The Hanna is consistent but tends to run low so I adjust in my head. This last time I calibrated it was spot on with my hydrometer which is nice - not recalibrating it again until such time the checker and the hydrometer start to disagree again. Overall I like the checker and it’s worth it for quick and easy checking. Just have a reference you trust and in reality I think that applies to any test

 

[jimk60]

Are ppl throwing their refractometers around in the backyard like nerf footballs or something? Lol

Once I calibrate my $40 refracto... it stays calibrated for years. It may be off 0.001 like every 3-4 years. After 6 years I spend the BIG BUCKS in buying a new $40 one at BRS

:face-with-rolling-eyes:

Idk man... I guess I don't drop my refracto. I clean it everytime I use it by wiping the lens completely clean. I treat it as an instrument not a toy by not tossing it and bouncing it on the count

 

[jimk60]

Are ppl throwing their refractometers around in the backyard like nerf footballs or something? Lol

Once I calibrate my $40 refracto... it stays calibrated for years. It may be off 0.001 like every 3-4 years. After 6 years I spend the BIG BUCKS in buying a new $40 one at BRS

:face-with-rolling-eyes:

Idk man... I guess I don't drop my refracto. I clean it everytime I use it by wiping the lens completely clean. I treat it as an instrument not a toy by not tossing it and bouncing it on the countertop....

Unfortunately I could not keep my refractometers or Hanna unit as calibrated as yours. Didn't realize they couldn't be thrown around the house!

 

[Fish Fan]

@LordClownFish You're getting some great replies from some very, very experienced reefers, including at least one professional chemist that I know of right here. So please take my advise with a grain of saltwater ;-)

My quick, non-expert, synopsis of all this is that:
A quality glass hydrometer with something like a graduated cylinder (don't try to use a glass hydrometer in your tank!) is an excellent and accurate solution, but it's clumsy, awkward, and not the easiest to use on a home aquarium, in my opinion. Best suited, I think, for those doing laboratory work, or to double check your other test results.

There are plastic hydrometers with swing arms that some say work well, but to me they are problematic - a single air bubble on the swing arm may throw you off. Others may feel differently, but I wouldn't recommend these.

Then you have refractometers, which I'm just guessing about 75% of reefers here use. These are popular, easy to use, and affordable. But you do get what you pay for, they do need to be calibrated, and you need to make sure you get one that's specifically for the reef tank hobby, and not one that's intended for the hobby of home brewing beer and wine (same thing, but will give you different numbers that don't relate to reef tank keeping)

I think your original post was about the Hanna Salinity Checker. I really like the Hanna Checkers for other parameters, but I personally have never owned a Hanna Salinity Checker.

What I do have and like and recommend, and I don't think anyone else has mention it yet, is I have the Milwaukee Digital salinity meter:

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/d...vEo_mLKUnqndxM8o3h_O7X-m4pxD5cvcaAlNLEALw_wcB

I love mine, and I'm pretty sure it's a well received product here at R2R. It can be calibrated, and comes with the solution to do so. In use, all you have to do is drop a small drop of water on the sensor, press a button, and in about a second it will report your salinity. It could not be easier.

This is my go-to for measuring salinity, not that I'm an expert, but I hope that helps! Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[slingfox]

My Hanna Checker runs low. I trust my VeeGee refractometer most since it is very accurate and does not seem to drift much. I used to have a cheap refractometer from one of the big saltwater retailers but it was junk. The VeeGee is not cheaper but worth every penny due to ease of use and reliability.

 

[LordClownFish]

@LordClownFish You're getting some great replies from some very, very experienced reefers, including at least one professional chemist that I know of right here. So please take my advise with a grain of saltwater ;-)

My quick, non-expert, synopsis of all this is that:
A quality glass hydrometer with something like a graduated cylinder (don't try to use a glass hydrometer in your tank!) is an excellent and accurate solution, but it's clumsy, awkward, and not the easiest to use on a home aquarium, in my opinion. Best suited, I think, for those doing laboratory work, or to double check your other test results.

There are plastic hydrometers with swing arms that some say work well, but to me they are problematic - a single air bubble on the swing arm may throw you off. Others may feel differently, but I wouldn't recommend these.

Then you have refractometers, which I'm just guessing about 75% of reefers here use. These are popular, easy to use, and affordable. But you do get what you pay for, they do need to be calibrated, and you need to make sure you get one that's specifically for the reef tank hobby, and not one that's intended for the hobby of home brewing beer and wine (same thing, but will give you different numbers that don't relate to reef tank keeping)

I think your original post was about the Hanna Salinity Checker. I really like the Hanna Checkers for other parameters, but I personally have never owned a Hanna Salinity Checker.

What I do have and like and recommend, and I don't think anyone else has mention it yet, is I have the Milwaukee Digital salinity meter:

https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/d...vEo_mLKUnqndxM8o3h_O7X-m4pxD5cvcaAlNLEALw_wcB

I love mine, and I'm pretty sure it's a well received product here at R2R. It can be calibrated, and comes with the solution to do so. In use, all you have to do is drop a small drop of water on the sensor, press a button, and in about a second it will report your salinity. It could not be easier.

This is my go-to for measuring salinity, not that I'm an expert, but I hope that helps! Good luck with whatever you choose!

The Milwaukee was a fantastic recommendation, I bought one shortly after you recommended it and this thing is super accurate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The Milwaukee was a fantastic recommendation, I bought one shortly after you recommended it and this thing is super accurate.

Is it? Its claims only +/- 2 ppt.

 

[Crabby48]

My tropic marin floating reads 1.026. Hanna reads 1.024. The hanna is consistent so i use it regularly and know im at 1.026. I do calibrate it once a month and cross check with the floater.

Bingo! Also who to stay your at 1.026 and Hanna isn’t correct. Think about the error each has and your inspec. I look at it as I’m somewhere between the two and that is all that’s needed along with consistent reading.

 

[LordClownFish]

Is it? Its claims only +/- 2 ppt.

Interesting, so I did some digging after seeing this and I found this old thread.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/milwaukee-refractometers-are-not-good.914993/
So what's the takeaway here? I should buy a TM hydrometer and test it against the Milwaukee for certainty?

Edit:
Also, I have since returned the Hanna. All I have now are my refractometer and Milwaukee.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

All devices, including that hydrometer, can and should be checked at least once with a standard.

 

[LordClownFish]

All devices, including that hydrometer, can and should be checked at least once with a standard.

Pardon my ignorance, what do you mean by standard?

 

[LordClownFish]

All devices, including that hydrometer, can and should be checked at least once with a standard.

Nevermind, I found this one you already wrote. I'm sure it's tiresome repeating yourself.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/reef-aquarium-salinity-diy-calibration-standards.956/
Thanks Randy.